Grizzlies, we need your help!

Dear Payton Alumni,

As you may know, the State of Illinois is having a very serious crisis of governance and our state currently does not have a budget in place. As a result of that, CPS is facing a budgetary crisis this year. The impact to Payton is likely to be severe and it will occur during the upcoming second semester of this school year.We expect that by the commencement of the second semester, Payton may be required to let go of 22% of its teaching staff. That means losing 12 teachers out of a staff of 55. We expect a great number of AP classes to be eliminated for second semester and we expect the curriculum to be limited to requirements necessary to receive an Illinois high school diploma, which are minimal.

We are writing to ask each alum to make a pledge of ANY amount to help us save our teachers. If the scenario outlined above comes to pass, we will come back to you and ask you to make good on your pledge in January. If negotiations to avert the crisis are successful, we will come back to you and release you from your pledge.

We need pledges in hand immediately so that we can determine how many teachers we will be able to save. Please don’t delay. Please pledge to this effort: https://goo.gl/wjyc7t

We know that you are young and that your own budgets are tight. If you can pledge ANY amount, our students and our teachers will be tremendously grateful.

With deepest gratitude,

Friends of Payton

You did it. You graduated from one of the top high schools in Illinois! You met some great friends. You have a bank of memories that will last your lifetime. And now you are officially a Payton Alumni.

Our high school reached its first ten-year mark, and graduates from the first class of 2014 reached out. With their school spirit, along with help from every class, a new Payton Alumni Association is taking form. Plans for reunions and events are in the works, and there is talk of publishing a bi-annual email newsletter, allowing you to gain information about event, classmates, and teachers.

Joining the Association is a wonderful way to gain contacts with your past classmates for job networking, keeping friendships strong, and assisting new graduating students from WPCP. It is time for you to join us!

This was your school and we want to make this association all about you!